Well-drilling attachment



Aug. 7, i923. lflg H. R. Rom/LAND WELL DR ILLING ATTACHMENT Filed Nov. 4, '1921 4 vsheets-'sheet 2 ATTUR/I/EYS Aug. 7, M1523. 1,464,396

` H. R. Rom/LAND WELL DRILLING ATTACHMENT Filed Nov. 4, 1921 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 TTOR/VEYS i, A fw fm l H w/M A d f I Ano/mers fa w45. :l

Aug. 7, 11923.

WELL DRILLING ATTACHMENT Filed Nov. 4, l92l Patented Aug. 7, T923;

HERBERT E. ROWJLAND, 0F EAST ORANGE, NEW JERSEY.

FVElLL-DRTLLTNG ATTACHMENT.

Application iled November il, 1921. Serial No. 512,764.

scription.

This invention relates to improvements inwell drilling attachments.

The general object of the invention is the provision of a durable and eiioient device that is simple to operate to gri the casing and to retain it in any desire position.

A further object of the invention is the provision of means for centrally spacing the casing inside the lining.

Another object is the provision of means in conjunction with the casing holding means for closing the well incase a gusher is discovered.

These and other objects of the invention will be more 'clearl understood from the following detailed escription and accompanying drawings. J

Figure 1 is a svertical cross section of the preferred form of Vthe well drilling attachment; f

Figure 2 is a cross section along the line 2 2, Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a cross section along the line 3 3, Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a vertical section as shown in Figure 1 with the dog in unlocked position;

Figure 5 is a cross section along the line 5 5, Figure A1;

Figure 6 is a side elevation of a holder bar with the shell broken away;

Fi re 7 is 'a perspective view of one of nel bar with the exce tion that the lower leg forms an acute ang e with the main wall the joints of the* adjusting ring mounted on the top shelf of the shell;

Figure 8 is a cross section along the line 6 8, Figure 1;

Figure 9 is a perspective View of one of the holder bars carried by the shell;

Figure 10 is a cross section along the line 10m-10, Figure 9;

Figure 11 is a top plan view of the grippin member;

Figure 12 is a section on the line 12 12, Figure 11; Figure 13 is a vertical cross section of a modification of the well drilling attachment showing a valve mounted in conjunction therewith.

Referring tosthe above-mentioned drawings, a well lining 15 is shown on which the well drilling attachment is mounted. This well drilling attachment consists of a curved shell 16 open at both ends like a coupling. The ends are provided with internal threads 18 and 19, the thread 19 being engaged with an external thread 20 on the lining' 15.y The shell is carefully designed to give the maximum necessary strength to withstand the forces exerted in the various directions by the weight of the casing or by the force applied in case a gusher is struck.

Two annular shelves 21 and 22 are made integral with the shell 16 'and they extend radially inward. Two annular Hanges 23 and 24 extend vertically upward from the shelf 22. This shelf is strengthened by means of web members 27 which extend between the shell 16' and the bottom of the shelf 22. A. two-piece ring 25 having a groove 26 cut in its lower face is mounted on the shelf 22. The two sections of the ring are joined together by means of 'pins` 28. Teeth 29 are provided on a section of the periphery of the ring 25 and they project radially outward. These teeth mesh with a worm 30 rotatably mounted in a chamber' 31 made integral with the shell 16, The shaft 32 projects through the wall of the chamber 31 and has a handwheel 53 mounted thereon. Packing 34 is mounted about the shaft 32 so as to prevent leakage.

A plurality of holder bars 35, each conforming to the shape shown in vFigures 9 and 10, are mounted to rest on the -rin 25 and the shelf 21. A top elevation of t se holder bars is the shape of a sector of a hollow circle while a side elevation shows them to be something of the shape of a chanwhile the upper leg forms an obtuse angle. As the holder bars are mounted in position their interior surfaces define the surface of a conic frustum having its smaller diameter located at the bottom. Fach holder bar is *provided with a depending rojection'36 exv tending downward and wit two web members 37 which join the lower leg to the wall thus adding strength. An opening 38 is provided in the wall of each holder bar andA is of suilicient size to allow adog 39, which is rotatably mounted on a rod 40 extending between the web members 37, to pass therethrough. This dog 39 is held in alinement with the opening 38 by means of spacing tubes 41. gripping member 42 provided with a Haring tenon 43 is mounted in a mortise 44 provided in each 'holder bar. When mounted in position the inner face of each gripping member 42 is vertical 1while the outer face slopes similarly to the interior members may be made of different sizes, de-

pendin upon the diameter of the casing with w ich they are to be used, and it is simple to remove one set of gripping members from the holder bars when it is desired to replace them b a set of different size. Tn conjunction wit each dog 39 a set screwl 46 is provided and mounted in a threaded opening 47 in the shell wall. A plurality of slots 48 are provided in the upper surface of the ring 25. These slots are evenly spaced around the ring and they incline inward. The projection 36 on each .holder bar is mounted in one of these slots. Plates 49, which extend over the mortises 44, are attached to the holder bars by means of screws 50 and serve to prevent the gripping members from being forced out of engagement with the holder bars. Two depending lugs 51 are supplied integral with the base of each holder bar and a plate 52 is attached to each holder bar by means of screws 53 which engage with the lugs 51. This plate ,extends underneath the shelf 21 ands'erves as a'means for preventin each holder bar l 'from being forced upwar A plurality of lugs 58 which extend outward are provided on each holder bar and engage in grooves 59 cut in the shelf 22. These members serve to prevent lateral movement of the holder bar. A casing 54 may be lowered throu h the opening in the upper end of the shel and mounted in the gripping members 42." Couplings 55 are mounted on the casing`54 to serve as a means for attaching the next length of casing. The coupling above the ripping members 42 may engage .with the atter to revent downward movement, and the coupllng below to prevent upward movement provided the gripping members are not tightly clamped on the casing to hold it 1n some desired position.

@penin s- 56 are provided near the base of the she l to allow the insertion of a pipe in order to pump-water`from between the lining and casing or for the introduction of concrete or the like inoider to cement" the casing tothe lining. These openings may 16 and the valve casing incase@ The shell 16 may have cast integral therewith a valve casing 60 which extends upward and has a threaded opening in its upper end, as shown in Figure 13. The valvev casing has mounted therein a gate valve 61 of any usual construction. Web members 62 are provided for strengthening the shell The operation of the device is as follows:

The proper sized gripping members 42 are mounted in the holder bars 35, and the worm 30 is then operated by means of the handwheel 33 `to rotate the ring 25 counterclock- Wise. AAs the ring rotates counterclockwise the sides of the slots 48 slide along the projections 36 integral with the holder bars 35 thus forcing ,the holder bars and gripping members radially outward. After the gripping members have been moved -a suflicient distance radially outward the casing 54 is lowered into the lining 15. When it is desired to grip the casing to hold it in order to attach another length of the casing the handwheel is operated to rotate the ring 25 clockwise thus forcing the gripping members radially inward into contact with the casing 54. llt there is a coupling 55 on the casing 54 it may be allowed to seat on the grippingmembers. Then the dogs 39 'may be operated by means of set screws 467 forcing them through openings 38 into contact with the gripping members, and this serves to hold the gripping members against upward movement'. not been forced inward by means of the set screws 46 and an upward force is 'applied to the gripping members they are stopped in their upward movement by means of the plates 49. The holder bars are held in position by means of plates 52 which, in case of the upward movement of the-holder bars. engage the lower shelf 2l. The upper end of the shell 16 has an opening therein which is provided with a thread 18 so that a pipe may be attached thereto in order to convey away the contents ofthe Well.

If the dogs 39 have' lUU The openprovided so that tubes ymay be inserted in order to remove whatever collects between the lining and the casing or in order to introduce concrete for cement-ingvthecasing to the lining. A valve casing may be made integral with the shell 16 and provided with a valve gate. This valve yand valve gate are provided so that the well may be closed in case 'a gusher is obtained. The provision of 'the valve inconjunction with the well drilling attachment mounted on the lining saves -a great amount of work in attaching means to the casing for conveying awaythe contents of' the well.

T would state in conclusion that while the illustrated examples constitute practical embodlments of my invention ll do not-limit myself strictly to the exact details herein .lill

nace-,see

illustrated since manifestly the same c-an be considerably varied without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

1. As a new article of manu-facture, an attachment for Well drilling apparatus, comprisin a shell for mounting on the well' lining, an adjustable means forvgrippmg' the well casing located in the shell. p i

2. ln combination with a well lining an; attachment for well drilling apparatus comprising a shell for mounting on the Well lining, a valve carried by the upper end of the shell for controlling the passage through the shell, and means located in the shell for gripping the well casing.-

3. An attachment .for well drilling apparatus, comprising a coupling for mounting elli on the well lining, and adjustable means located in the couplmg for holding and centering the well casing.

4. An -attachment for well drilling apparatus, comprising a shell for mounting on the well lining, removable gripping members mounted in the shell for holding the well casing, and means carried by the shell for operating the gripping members.

5. An attachment for well 'drilling' apparatus, comprising a shell fbr mounting on the well lining, gripping members located in the shell for holding the casing, and means associated with the gripping members for operating' them. i l,

6. An attachment for well drilling apparatus fconiprising a shell for mounting on. the we'lTlining, gripping members for gripping the well casing located in a circle in the shell, and means for moving the gripping members along radial lines to grip and release the well casing.

7. An attachment for `well drilling apparatus, comprising a'shellffor mounting on the well lining, removable gripping? members mounted in the shell for gripping the well casing, means for operating the gripping members, and means for locking vthe gripping members in cbntat with the well casln f 8. in attachment for well drilling apparatus, comprising a Shell for mounting on the well lining, removable gripping members mounted in the shll for gripping the well casing, means for joperating the gripping members, and a valve mounted on the upper end of the shell for controlling the passa e therethrough.'

9. n atta hment for a Welldrilling apparatus, com rising a shell for mounting on the well lining, apair of annular shelves carried by the shell, a ring rotatably mounted on the upper shelf, a plurality of holder bars mounted on the ring and lower shelf, gripping members removably mounted on the holder bars, means for rotating the ring,

and means in conjunction with the ring and holder ybars for moving the latter radially to move the gripping members radially as 4the ring is rotated. l

10.- An attachment for a well drillingapparatus comprising a shell for mounting on the welllining, a pair of annular shelves carried by the shell, a ring rotatably mounted on the upper shelf, a plurality of holder bars mounted on the ring' andlower shelf, gripping members removably mounted on the holder bars, means for rotating the ring,

-.means in conjunction with the ring andV tions tting in said inclined slots, gripping' members mounted on the holder bars, teeth in conjunction with said ring and meshing with a worm carriedz-loy the shell, and means for operating the worm to rotate the ring to move the gripping members radially.

12. As a new article of manufacture, an attachment for well. drilling apparatus 'comprising a shell for mounting on the well 'leo lining, means located in the shell for ygripping and holding the well casing, external means carried by the shell and associated with the gripping and holding means for i operating the latter, and openings extending through the shell leading to the space between the well lining and well casing.

13. As a new article of manufacture, an attachment for well drilling apparatus comprising 'a -tting for mounting on the well lining, means for gripping and 'holding the well casing located in'said fitting, external means supported by the casing and associfated with the gripping members for operating the latter, and 'a lvalve associated with the upper end of the casing to control the passage thereof. o

14e. As a new article of manufacture, an attachment for well drilling apparatus, comprising a spherical coupling open at both ends for mounting on the,well lining, means for gripping the well casing to hold and,

center the latter, means for operating the said gripping and holding means carried by the shell, and means for locking the gripping and holding means in active engagement with the casing.

15. An attachment for Well drilling ap aratus comprising a shell for mounting on. t e well lining, means for gripping and hold- 5 to control thefpassage thereof. i

ing the well casing located in the lower end of the shell, means for operating the gripping and' holdingmeans carried by the shell, and a valve located in the upper end of the shell v16. An attachment for Well drilling apparatus comprising a shell for mounting on the Well lining, annular shelves carried by the shelland extending radially inward, a

W ring having inclined slots out therein rotatably mounted ou the upper shelf, holder bars having depending projections for engggi'g 'in Said slots carried by the ring ana lower she1f, grippingmembers having Haring projections mounted on said holder bars;

the'laring projectionsengaging in mortises provided in the holder bars, ine'ans for rotating the ring to move-the gripping memf bers radially to'grip -the Well casing, openings leading through the shell casing into the space between the well lining and the Well casing, and a gate valve supported in the upper end of the casing.

HERBERT R. ROWLAND, 

